It`s them pesky starlings again

[eco]

Hi there - came across this forum by chance and it seems quite good so decided to join.

first of all may i apologise for a topic that has no doubt been covered many a time - anyway here it goes ....

we bought a bird table and some feeders as we were interested in feeding the local robin,blue tits and sparrows.

after setting things up we have found that the 22 starlings, 2 magpie and the biggest pigeon I have ever seen has decided to muscle in on the act. (infact the pigeon took up the whole of the birdhouse).

i thought of putting some form of mesh around the table but was just wondering if anybody has any ideas on the size of the holes required to keep out the starlings but allow the smaller birds in ?

I know the big and pesky birds need feeding as well but when 22 starlings are in your not so big garden and don`t want to move when you go out then thats getting a bit much ...

any ideas and advice from you more experienced people would be greatfully received... thanks

[captaincarot]

i'd love to get starlings on ours but they don't get a look in for the plague of squirrels that have decended on us.

[Kayleigh]

feed the starlings and large birds in one area and put feeders up containing sunflower hearts in another part of the garden and enjoy them all..the starlings and magpies are very comical to watch they will give you hours of pleasure.

[eco]

thats where the problem is - my garden isn`t huge and don`t really have the space to set up two parts, plus the starlings are too many and even have a go at the nut feeders etc..

I will put up a notice saying ... "all starlings report to captaincarot`s house " - just look out for 22 + starlings coming your way

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by eco

I will put up a notice saying ... "all starlings report to captaincarot`s house " - just look out for 22 + starlings coming your way

we first put up one feeding station, nuts, seeds and fat balls. the result 2 squirrles.


so we put up another feeding station, with more nuts, seeds and fat balls, the result we got 4 squirrels.

now we've put up a lantern type seed feeder hanging from the tree and have gained another squirrel.

though we only moved in on the first of september and our bird list is already, jackdaws, magpies, blackbird, robbin, wren, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, long tailed tit. crow and dunnock. and we have seen a greater spotted woodpecker in the trees.

but it's 90% squirrel.

[genevieve]

haha this is funny to read - we're constantly putting everything that comes into our heads that would potentially attract birds. so, 80% massive pigeons. but once youve over the fact that theyre pigeons theyre actually very beautiful and very sweet and funny to watch. i think just ,mix up what you put out i suppose. or the types we get depend on the time i look. if i go in the garden at like 7 am then theres usually lots of little birds and then they go and then starlings turn up and then they go and then its pigeons and blackbirds mostly. yet to see a squirrel n the garden this year, normally have them by now, but im not too worried as i went down the local woods and couldnt walk past a tree without a squirrel jumping past!

[wizzo]

I agree with Keyleigh, Eco. I had terrible trouble keeping Magpies and Woodies off of my 'fatballs' and seedfeeders. I've had to rethink the whole setup, and I have arranged things as best as I can, to allow the larger birds to feed seperately from the smaller birds. If there's anything the larger birds can perch on and attack the seedfeeders etc, you'll need to move them. They can't cling on to the feeders, although it's comical watching the Magpies trying. They are so clever, and now and then they have managed to get a foothold. The food does last longer now, however, and the Tits etc have remained largely undisturbed.